Breaking device for frozen confectionary



March 30, 1965 L.. G. PoRTER l-:TAL 3,175,746

BREAKING DEVICE FOR FROZEN CONFECTIONARY Filed Oct. 23, 1963 rates Thisinvention relates to a device for breaking a segmented frozenconfectionary -along a portion therein of reduced section joining saidsegments.

Frozen confectionaries are available in a variety of forms and in somecases are formed in two segments joined together by a portion of reducedsection along which the confection may be split into separate segments.A Wooden stick is usually embedded in each segment to facilitatehandling of the same for consumption. Une of the most popular forms ofsuch segmented frozen confactionary is sold under the trade namePopsicle and in this specification such confectionary will hereinafterbe so referred to.

Separation of the two segments of the popsicle is usually achieved by avariety of essentially manual methods which are generally inconvenient,time consuming and invariably messy. When the separation is to beeffected at home, the most common method is to place a knife edge alongthe portion of reduced section and then administer a sharp blow to theback of the blade. rlhis method is inherently dangerous particularlywhen performed by children and often results in the popsicle being splitotherwise than intended. When it is required to break the popsicle intotwo segments away from home, without the usual kitchen facilities, theproblem becomes even more acute. ln lthese circumstances the popsicle iseither positioned with the portion thereof of reduced section overlayinga sharp edge and struck to effect separation or is simply grasped in thehands and twisted to separate the segments. These methods, too, areunsatisfactory as they are messy and usually result in shatteering ofthe popsicle otherwise than into the desired segments.

A device particularly adapted for splitting a popsicle along the portionof reduced section therein is described and illustrated in applicantsco-pending United States patent application, Serial No. 184,647. Thisdevice comprises generally a base plate having an upstanding rib on onesurface thereof, two guide posts extending vertically upwards from thesaid surface and a second plate mounted above the base plate on the twoposts for sliding movement therealong toward and away from the baseplate. A popsicle positioned between the plates with the rib on the baseplate bearing along the portion of reduced section will be split intosubstantially equal segments upon pressure being exerted on the uppersurface of the popsicle through the second plate.

While this device provides tidy and eli'icient means for splitting apopsicle it is assembled from a number of component parts each requiringa separate mould, the requirement for plural moulds and for assemblybeing rellected in the cost of the device. Other attempts to providepopsicle splitters have resulted in devices which have been eithercomplex and expensive or simple but otherwise unsatisfactory.

Accordingly it is the object of this invention to provide a simple andinexpensive device for expeditiously and efiiciently splitting asegmented frozen confectionary in a desired manner said device being ofmoulded monolithic construction.

A preferred embodiment of this invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals representlike parts and in which:

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FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of the breaking device in accordance withthe invention showing details of construction thereof,

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the breaking device in accordance withthe invention showing a popsicle positioned therein for splitting.

FGURE 3 is a sectional view along the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2, and

FIGUREE 4 is a sectional view `along the line 4--4 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawings the moulded plastic popsicle breaker 1liis shown to comprise generally a rigid base plate 11, a popsiclecleaving rib 12 formed integrally of and extending across the base plate11, a rigid pressure plate 13, and a panel member 14 integrallyconnecting said plates together through hinge strips 15 and 16 andmounting the pressure plate 13 in registration above the base plate 11for reciprocable movement of the said plates toward and away from oneanother.

Rib 12 on the upper surface 17 of the base plate 11 is symmetricallylocated thereon between the ends 18, 19 and side edges 2Q, 21 andextends substantially vertically upwards from the surface 17 toward theunder surface 22 of the pressure plate 13 a distance greater than thedepth D of the grooves defined by the segments 23 and 24 of a popsicle25 and the web 26 joining the segments.

The side surfaces 27 and 2S of rib 12 taper upwardly from plate 11 toform a knife edge 29 for cleaving a popsicle in a manner to bedescribed. In order that the popsicle breaker 1l) will be sufficientlystrong and durable to withstand prolonged usage under conditionsnormally attendant upon use thereof by children the root thickness X ofrib 12 at the junction thereof with plate 11 is preferably between aboutone quarter and one half the height H of the rib and not more than abouttwo and one half times the thickness T of .plate 11 and in thispreferred embodiment the relation between H:X:T is approximately 4as 5:2:1 respectively. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat the above relationship between H, X and T tends to minimize sinkingwhich may occur when moulding a relatively heavy member such as rib 12onto a thin plate such as 11.

Plate 13 is mounted above plate 11 by a relatively rigid panel member 14integrally connected through a hinge strip 15 to plate 11 along thelateral edge 30 thereof and to plate 13 through a similar hinge strip 16along the lateral edge 31 thereof. Hinge strips 15 and 1d are of lesserthickness than plates 11, 13 and panel member 14 to facilitate bendingthereat and are sufficiently stiff t-o support pressure plate 13 aboveplate 11 in spaced apart overlaying relation to provide a slot 32between the plates within which a popsicle may be positioned forsplitting; plates 11 and 13 are thus movable toward and awayI from oneanother about hinge strips 1S and 16.

The popsicle breaker 10 is moulded in fiat folded out relation withplates 11, 13 and panel member 14 in substantially one plane and themould is gated substantially centrally over the portion therein in whichpanel member 14 is formed. In order to facilitate the flow of plasticfrom this point across the shallow portions of the mould in which hingestrips 15 and 16 are formed and into the end sections thereof a channelof greater depth than the said shallow portions is formed in the mouldacross each such shallow portion. These channels result in complementaryribs 33 on the external surface 34 and 35 of hinge strips 1S and 16respectively which extend across a respective hinge strip and joinintegrally with panel member 14 and an adjacent panel 11 or 13. Ribs 33serve to strengthen the hinge strips and enhance the desired stiffnessthereof.

Longitudinally extending ribs 36 to 42 inclusive and laterally extendingribs 43 on the undersurface 22 of plate 13 project substantiallyvertically downwardly from the said surface to provide a grid-likenetwork of gripping elements; the central longitudinal rib 39,substantially directly above rib 12 on plate 11, and the immediatelyadjacent longitudinal ribs 38 and 40 projecting downwardly past theremaining said ribs on surface 22 a distance Z less than depth D of theaforesaid grooves in the popsicle 25, for a purpose to be describedhereinafter. The relationship between the thickness `of plate 13 and thedepth and root thickness of each of ribs 36 to 40 and ribs 41 should, aswith rib 12, be controlled to give strength and durability to themoulded product and to minimize sinking therein, and in this preferredembodiment a satisfactory relationship between the three variables inthe order stated for ribs 36, 37, 41, 42 and ribs 43 is approximately1.5 :1:1 and for ribs 38, 39 and 40 approximately 1.5:l:2.

While plates 11 and 13 in this preferred embodiment of the invention areshown to be of generally rectangtlai spade-shaped configuration and ofsimilar overall size it may in some circumstances, be advantageous anddesirable to employ plates of different shapes and size as for examplecircular plates.

It may be required in some instances to utilize the popsicle breaker tosplit a popsicle of greater than normal thickness and it is preferablein such cases, in order to obtain a desirable splitting of the popsiclethat the popsicle be inserted between the plates as aforesaid with thehead end thereof positioned about one quarter to two thirds of the wayalong the rib 12 from the end of rib 12 adjacent end 1S of the baseplate. To limit the insertion of the oversized popsicle between theplates as aforesaid one or more laterally extending barrier ribs may beprovided on surface 22 of the base plate projecting upwardly therefrom adistance between about one half and about the full height H of rib 12.

In one method of operation a popsicle 25 having segments 23 and 24joined together by a web 26 of reduced section is inserted between theplates 11 and 13 with web 26 thereof bearing upon the knife edge 29 ofrib 12. As rib 12 projects beyond surface 17 of plate 11 a distancegreater than the depth D as aforesaid the popsicle 25 is supported byrib 12 above surface 17. Pressure plate 13 is then pivoted downwardlyabout hinge strip 16 to bring the gripping elements formed by the ribson the undersurface 22 of plate 13 into engagement with the surface 44of the popsicle, the ribs 33, 39 and 40 projecting into the groove 45 ofthe popsicle to restrict sideways movement thereof while the same isengaged between the plates. Increasing pressure is then applied to plate13 forcing rib 12 to cleave through web 26 and thereby separate thesegments 23 and 24 of the popsicle.

While one preferred embodiment of this invention has been described itwill be understood that various alterations in design may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit of this invention and the scope of theappended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A one-piece molded thermoplastic device for breaking a frozenconfection along a separation groove deiined by a portion of reducedsection therein comprising: a base plate having upper and lower baseplate surfaces and boundary edges; a panel member having boundary edges;a first integral plastic hinge strip flexibly joining said panel memberand `said base plate together along a portion of their respectiveboundary edges; said first hinge strip being of reduced section relativeto said base plate and panel member; a pressure plate having upper andlower pressure plate surfaces and boundary edges; a second integralplastic hinge strip flexibly joining said panel member and said pressureplate together along a portion of their respective edges; :said secondhinge strip being of reduced section relative to said pressure plate andsaid panel member; said rst and second hinge strips orienting andlocating said pressure plate in overlaying spaced apart relation aboveSaid base plate for movement of said plates toward and away from oneanother for clamping engagement of a confection placed therebetween; astraight elongate rib symmetrically located on the upper surface of saidbase plate within said boundary edges thereof and projectingsubstantially vertically upwardly from said sur. face toward saidpressure plate a distance greater than the depth of the separationgroove in said confection to seat within a portion at least of saidgroove land space said confection above said base plate when saidconfection is inserted between said plates and dening movement spaces oneach side of said rib for reception of portions of said brokenconfection; and a plurality of spaced apart parallel ribs on the surfaceof said pressure plate parallel and in opposition to said rib on saidbase plate, said ribs on said pressure plate projecting substantiallyvertically downwardly therefrom to provide a group of members grippingsaid confection when clamped between said plates as aforesaid andregistering in said separation groove thereof.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said iirst and second hingestrips are each provided with at least one rib which extendstransversely across a surface thereof and joins, integrally, with saidpanel member and an adjacent plate member.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 including further rib formations onsaid pressure plate adjacent to said parallel ribs oriented normal tothe axis thereof and of reduced thickness in relation thereto'.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A ONE-PIECE MOLDED THERMOPLASTIC DEVICE FOR BREAKING A FROZENCONFECTTION ALONG A SEPARATION GROOVE DEFINED BY A PORTION OF REDUCEDSECTION THEREIN COMPRISING: A BASE PLATE HAVING UPPER AND LOWER BASEPLATE SURFACES AND BOUNDARY EDGES; A PANEL MEMBER HAVING BOUNDARY EDGES;A FIRST INTEGRAL PLASTIC HINGE STRIP FLEXIBLY JOINING SAID PANEL MEMBERAND SAID BASE PLATE TOGETHER ALONG A PORTION OF THEIR RESPECTIVEBOUNDARY EDGES; SAID FIRST HINGE STRIP BEING OF REDUCED SECTION RELATIVETO SAID BASE PLATE AND PANEL MEMBER; A PRESSURE PLATE HAVING UPPER ANDLOWER PRESSURE PLATE SURFACES AND BOUNDARY EDGES; A SECOND INTEGRALPLASTIC HINGE STRIP FLEXIBLY JOINING SAID PANEL MEMBER AND SAID PRESSUREPLATE TOGETHER ALONG A PORTION OF THEIR RESPECTIVE EDGES; SAID SECONDHINGE STRIP BEING OF REDUCED SECTION RELATIVE TO SAID PRESSURE PLATE ANDSAID PANEL MEMBER; SAID FIRST AND SECOND HINGE STRIPS ORIENTING ANDLOCATING SAID PRESSURE PLATE IN OVERLAYING SPACED APART RELATION ABOVESAID BASE PLATE FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID PLATES TOWARD AND AWAY FROM ONEANOTHER FOR CLAMPING ENGAGEMENTT OF A CONFECTION PLACED THEREBETWEEN; ASTRAIGHT ELONGATED RIB SYMMETRICALLY LOCATED ON THE UPPER SURFACE OFSAID BASE PLATE WITHIN SAID BOUNDARY EDGES THEREOF AND PROJECTINGSUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY UPWARDLY FROM SAID SURFACE TOWARD SAID PRESSUREPLATE A DISTANCE GREATER THAN THE DEPTH OF THE SEPARATION GROOVE IN SAIDCONFECTION TO SEAT WITHIN A PORTION AT LEAST OF SAID GROOVE AND SPACESAID CONNFECTION ABOVE SAID BASE PLATE WHEN SAID CONFECTION IS INSERTEDBETWEEN SAID PLATES AND DEFINING MOVEMENT SPACES ON EACH SIDE OF SAIDRIB FOR RECEPTION OF PORTIONS OF SAID BROKEN CONFECTION; AND A PLURALITYOF SPACED APART PARALLEL RIBS ON THE SURFACE OF SAID PRESSURE PLATEPARALLEL AND IN OPPOSITION TO SAID RIB ON SAID BASE PLATE, SAID RIBS ONSAID PRESSURE PLATE PROJECTING SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY DOWNWARDLYTHEREFROM TO PROVIDE A GROUP OF MEMBERS GRIPPING SAID CONFECTION WHENCLAMPED BETWEEN SAID PLATES AS AFORESAID AND REGISTERING IN SAIDSEPARATION GROOVE THEREOF.